Here are some classic paper toys to make, print them out on heavy paper and let your kids color them. Or you can color them, whatever works the best for ya!
[via BoingBoing]
Author: John
Lost In Space
Oh bother, looks like a mistake during a down link hand off from one ground station to another resulted in the robotic lander Minerva to be dropped at the wrong time. Hayabusa (it’s shadow is visible on the above photo, cool eh?) had been making burns to keep station over the asteroid Itokawa when the lander was commanded to release. The spacecraft was moving away at a speed of 15cm/sec, 2cm/sec faster than the asteroids escape velocity. So, Hayabusa launched Minerva into space. That sucks, I was looking forward to seeing that hop around on the surface. However, all is not lost. The laser range finder system on Hayabusa is working great, the thrusters are working pretty well to keep correct orientation, and plans for the slug to be shot into Itokawa is still on the short list of planned events.
Gada Be
A new (well new to me) metasearch page.
It’s a metasearch service, no matter where or how you view it. gada.be is for anybody with access to the Web and in need of immediate, impartial results.
Gravitational tractor for towing asteroids
Dr Edward Lu and Dr Stanley Love propose that a rocket be launched into space, effectively to act as a giant magnet. The gravity tractor would hover alongside the asteroid, with its thrusters pointing outwards so the exhaust does not affect the surface. The tractor would then pull the asteroid off course, merely using the gravitational pull between the two bodies. The scientists calculate that, with sufficient warning, a 20 tonne gravity tractor could safely deflect an asteroid 200 metres across in about a year of towing.
Hands On Camera Kit
Baring the fact that there is no flash on this camera, this kit is quite cool. After you assemble it you will have a simple point and shoot fixed focus camera. Now, as your building it I don’t see any reason not to add a flash sync contact on the shutter (I did that with a 110 camera in my youth) and who knows what else. Hey, this may become a popular modding platform!
[via Red Ferret]
The Hydromechanical Cochlea
This is getting close to an actual replacement for human hearing, it can detect sounds but it can’t do anything with the information. Also, the frequency range (4200-35,000 Hz) passes human hearing (20-20000 Hz). Still it is a major step closer to a hearing implant that could restore the hearing of thousands of people.